Digital Camera Review
Sep 23, 2004
- By James Murray
The Canon PowerShot A400 is a new addition to the PowerShot line. It comes in four stylish colors with sleek silver accents, and has a compact, low slung body made to fit snugly into the palm of the user’s hand. The A400 comes equipped with a 1/3.2-inch, 3.2 MP CCD; a 2.2x optical/3.2x digital zoom; and a 1.5-inch LCD display that’s affixed to the back of the camera body. There are eight scene settings, available via an onscreen menu, as well as manual control of exposure, white balance, image effect, size/quality, ISO, internal flash settings and macro/infinity settings. The A400 also contains hybrid shooting capability, allowing for both video and still images to be captured and the possibility of adding sound memos after shooting. The camera retails for US $179.99. With this reasonable price, it is a strong candidate for a consumer searching for a low-cost digital camera with manual control as well as strong video options.
| Likes |
- Concise layout of controls - clear labeling
- Viewfinder large for point-and-shoot and well placed
-Scene mode display on the LCD screen
-Lightweight and simple mode switch, allowing for fast alterations during shooting |
| Dislikes |
|
- Internal Flash located too close to left side, making it easily obscured
-Flimsy memory card/battery cover makes opening a bit of a hassle
-Right side could benefit from more of a grip, although the height makes it easy to grip at the top and base of the camera
|
Conclusion
With a 1/3.2-inch 3.2 MP CCD the A400, for the most part, does perform. Color reproduction is excellent and there is strong image clarity and resolution. The camera does contain some glaring noise problems, making lighting an issue unless constant flash use occurs. The body comes in four separate model colors, all with sleek silver highlights and a slightly pastel exterior offering fashionable styling. There are eight scene presets, stitch assist for panoramic modes, and a real image optical zoom viewfinder included. This camera is best suited for those budget-oriented users seeking a basic imager that they don’t need to fumble with. Controls are sparse, making handling effortless but limiting user control. All around, this is an ideal camera for a very specific user: the point-and-shooter who wants a fashionable, automatic camera that will take good images for a low price. If this is what you're after, the PowerShot A400 is a more than suitable option.